Is it safe?

 The construction scaffolding at the new water company building appears to be listing a bit.  Not only is the right side adjusted down a few notches, but the metal support pillars themselves are leaning.

 Is this the culprit? A steel plate serving as a footing (orange arrow) at the bottom of the right rear pillar is almost completely off the concrete slab on which it is resting.

As a matter of fact, the whole assembly looks rickety.

Norfolk Southern - Barricade repair

See the previous post for the back story on this.

Accident at the railroad crossing?

There is evidence of an accident at the railroad crossing at the bottom of Walnut Street. One of the barricades is broken, and there is a lot of oil on the road.

No other details are available at this time.

Creeping through the woods this morning

Next to Barber Street . . .

Opening on Borough Council

The Borough is accepting letters of interest for Councilwoman Jody Gable's term of office due to her recent resignation.

Eligible citizens are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and a brief statement of qualifications to Ron Miller, acting borough manager.

The basic qualification to serve on Borough Council is to be a registered voter and resident of the Borough. Councilors must have resided in the borough continuously for at least one year before being elected. To qualify as a voter, a person must be eighteen years of age and a resident of the election district.

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

High water mark

The river has been running high lately, as evidenced by the water level on the depth scale shown above. (This photo was taken yesterday.) The scale was painted on a pier of the Veterans Memorial Bridge in the mid to late 1990s and can be seen from Columbia River Park.  In the photo, the water level is almost at the 232 mark. At three notches above the water level, a faint "234" can be seen. The level during Hurricane Agnes (1972) is marked near the top of the scale at 241. Normal is at 227, which, of course, can't be seen here.

Borough office entrance renovation

The entrance at the borough offices is being renovated.  Entrance is temporarily through the door at the police department.

Where's the railing?

SEEN TODAY . . . 

A section of the railing at the Locust Street Park gazebo is missing, and the gated entrance was left open.  Was the railing removed for repair/replacement, or did it simply disappear?  

Out for a Sunday drive

There go those flyboys again, enjoying the nice weather - five C-130s that flew almost directly over my house just after noon today . . .

This article HERE most likely relates to the planes many Columbians saw.

An invitation from a resident of the historic district

We received this notice today . . .

Youth Explosion Happening Today

Columbia kids enjoyed the Youth Explosion today, which was sponsored by the Mount Zion AME Church. The block party featured food, games, and music by DJ Wade-O.

Some pics from the event on the 200 block of South Fifth Street . . .

East Hempfield police charge Columbia man with stealing and trying to cash outgoing checks

"Columbia man"
713 Kinderhook Road? That's West Hempfield, not Columbia. He's a West Hempfield man.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/east-hempfield-police-charge-columbia-man-with-stealing-and-trying/article_4561cfb0-dfbd-11e4-af4e-e70b04f9fc78.html

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 Columbia Borough Spring Clean up

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Columbia Borough Spring Clean up

CURBSIDE COLLECTION

7:00 A.M. UNTIL 12 NOON

 ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:

Large/White Items   $20 each

Miscellaneous Items   $5 each

Furniture    Sofa/Chair,Water Heater,    Push or Electric Lawnmower,Air Conditioner,   Mattress, Box Spring, Dryer, Rug/Carpet, Stove,   Grills (without gas tank),Double Sink, Dehumidifier, Bathtub  , Microwave, Refrigerator    must have doors removed, Dishwasher, Freezer    must have door removed, Trash Compactor, Toilet, Battery (i.e.: Car/Truck/Marine),Tires (pair)

Free Item:

Scrap Metal

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:

PAINT CANS, SHINGLES, ENGINES OR GAS TANKS, WOOD, VINYL TYPE FLOORING, BRICKS,   CONCRETE BLOCKS, YARD WASTE, GARBAGE OR ELECTRONICS (TELEVISIONS, STEREOS, RADIOS, COMPUTERS/MONITORS/KEYBOARDS)

Item tags may be purchased at the Borough Office, located at 308 Locust Street, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Curbside collection requires a tag be attached to the item. Place item(s) curbside after 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2015, and before 6:00 a.m., Friday, April 24, 2015.Items picked up curbside without a tag will be invoiced to the property owner.

NOTE:   Curbside articles for pickup are the property of Columbia Borough.  

Any unauthorized removal of curbside items before the scheduled pickup time is an illegal theft of trash hauling services and a Trash and Recycling Ordinance violation.   Violators identified will be prosecuted.

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

THE SCRIBBLER: Keep the Confederate flag under wraps

From today's LNP:
"This continued flaunting of the flag of rebels who lost their bid to destroy the Union and preserve slavery a century and a half ago should disturb all Americans of goodwill, not just the African-Americans at whom it is often aimed."

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/the-scribbler-keep-the-confederate-flag-under-wraps/article_08b03c8c-ded2-11e4-b8e2-db788c7111e7.html

Property Tax Independence Act Meeting

A fact sheet from the April 9 Property Tax Independence Act meeting at the VFW can be viewed/downloaded HERE.

And all the bells were . . . silent?

Although many locations in Lancaster and York Counties rang bells today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, Columbia did not. Not one peal from one bell in one bell tower in the many churches around town. Not one celebration or observance around town or on the bridge.  And this, after last night's meeting where it was mentioned that our history should be promoted. You know - our history, like the bridge burning that the town was directly involved in, which directly precipitated one of the pivotal battles of the Civil War. You know - Gettysburg. Yeah . . that history. Nothing important or anything. Just another missed opportunity, and we can't afford too many more of those.

More on last night's CEDC meeting

Here's how LNP sees it. (Follow the link below.)
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-residents-business-owners-vow-to-revitalize-and-thrive/article_15f1324a-ded5-11e4-a5bd-6f9711e6b72e.html?mode=jqm

Thirsty Thursday: Columbia Kettle Works Belgian Dark Strong Ale

GO HERE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/features/food/thirsty-thursday-columbia-kettle-works-belgian-dark-strong-ale/article_5c3d138e-de4b-11e4-bc56-43b11ba11696.html?mode=jqm

Police: Teen missing from New Britain Township found in Columbia

Everyone's coming to Columbia.

A 14-year-old boy who was reported missing out of New Britain Township has been located and he is safe, according to police.

New Britain Township police Chief Robert Scafidi said Wednesday that Sebastian Keith took his father's girlfriend's SUV Sunday and drove it to Columbia Borough in Lancaster County.

The boy has relatives in the area and was located by borough police Thursday, Scafidi said. Authorities are still considering whether to file charges against the boy.

http://m.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/police-teen-missing-from-new-britain-township-found-in-lancaster/article_0c795d79-0f45-5fba-8b5a-3d71dc228522.html?mode=jqm

The day they drove old Dixie down

"The night they drove old Dixie down,

And all the bells were ringing . . ."

Today, April 9, marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Appomattox and the subsequent surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse.  The event is regarded as the end of the Civil War. Bells will ring at 3:15 this afternoon  in various locations in York and Lancaster Counties.

Columbia played a pivotal role in the Civil War when locals burned the covered bridge spanning the Susquehanna to thwart the advance of Confederate troops.  The Confederates were turned back and were later confronted by Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg, a Confederate defeat - and the beginning of the end for the South.

Dog dragged by truck, then abandoned

Police  are investigating a case of animal cruelty. Authorities say a woman tied a male dog by the neck onto the bed of a white pickup truck and drove along the 300 block of Maple Street in Columbia. While en route, the dog fell from the truck and was dragged down the street. The woman allegedly stopped the vehicle, cut off the rope and drove off.

Columbia Police are asking anyone with more information to come forward. 

The "Help Find Sophie" Facebook page is asking people to share a post about this canine to help authorities locate the owner, who is expected to face animal cruelty charges. 

Animal rescuers say the dog appears to be about 10-months to one-year old. He is currently being cared for at a local shelter. 

Open House this weekend at Burning Bridge Antiques

Burning Bridge Antiques will hold an open house this coming Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring free refreshments and live music.

Columbia plans its future

Over 50 people, mainly Columbia residents, attended a meeting sponsored by the nonprofit Columbia Economic Development Corporation at Perfect Settings on Wednesday night. Lancaster County redevelopment consultants presented a Columbia Downtown Master Plan as a step forward towards revitalizing the borough.

A copy of the plan can be viewed/downloaded HERE.

More details will follow.

This website is requesting videos or photos from the Feb. 3 Columbia Plaza shooting scene

This website is requesting videos and photos from the February 3 shooting at Musser's parking lot in the Columbia Plaza, especially anything from the beginning of the incident. Submissions and inquiries can be anonymous and will remain confidential. No materials will be published without permission.
Please contact: coleumber@gmail.com

Columbia Borough Spring 2015 Newsletter

Click on images to see larger views:

CEDC presentation 6 p.m. this Wednesday at 200 Locust

The nonprofit Columbia Economic Development Corporation hired a team of mostly Lancaster County redevelopment experts to explore Columbia, interview its business, government and other leaders, and plot a way forward for the underused downtown, said executive director Janice Nikoloff.

The consultants will make a public presentation of their findings 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at 200 Locust St., Columbia.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-renewal-consultants-focus-on-market-house-antiques-and-upscale/article_09682ef4-d4a6-11e4-b190-0baa7fa41353.html?mode=jqm

Property tax independence meeting Thursday at VFW

Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at VFW, 401 Manor Street

(Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Click on graphic for a clearer view.

Yard waste pickup starts today